EA CEO Says Dragon Age: The Veilguard Failed to 'Resonate With a Broad Audience,' Gamers Increasingly Want 'Shared-World Features'

EA's Andrew Wilson attributes the financial underperformance of Dragon Age: The Veilguard to its failure to connect with a wider audience. Last week's restructuring of BioWare, focusing solely on Mass Effect 5, saw personnel shifts following the game's disappointing sales figures. EA reported only 1.5 million players engaged with Dragon Age: The Veilguard, significantly below projections.

IGN previously documented The Veilguard's troubled development, including layoffs and the departure of key personnel. According to Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, BioWare staff considered the game's completion a miracle given EA's initial push for live-service elements, later reversed.

Wilson, in an investor call, suggested future RPGs require "shared-world features and deeper engagement" alongside strong narratives to broaden appeal. He acknowledged the game's quality but cited insufficient market resonance. This stance is perplexing given EA's prior decision to steer BioWare away from a live-service model for Dragon Age. The successful launch of single-player RPGs like Baldur's Gate 3 further fuels criticism that EA drew the wrong conclusions. The future of the Dragon Age franchise remains uncertain.

EA CFO Stuart Canfield emphasized the evolving industry landscape and the need to prioritize high-potential projects, explaining the BioWare restructuring towards Mass Effect 5, which involved significant staff reductions. He highlighted the shift away from solely blockbuster storytelling.

It's crucial to note that single-player games contribute minimally to EA's overall revenue, which heavily relies (74% in the last year) on live-service titles like Ultimate Team, Apex Legends, and The Sims. Upcoming titles like Skate and the next Battlefield are also expected to follow this live-service model.